When People Saw What This Church Sign Said About Jesus, Controversy Instantly Erupted

A Catholic church in Buffalo was forced to take down a message on a sign in front of the building earlier this week after complaints came flooding in from around the world.

The sign, made up of removal letters, at Saints Columba-Brigid Roman Catholic Church read, “Jesus Had 2 Dads and He Turned Out Just Fine.” John Vennari, a writer with Catholic Family News, learned of the sign through a friend who sent him a picture. “The sign was so scandalous I had a hard time believing it was not photo-shopped,” Vennari wrote in an article about it earlier this week.

“This pro-homosexual sign effectively mocks the Blessed Trinity…[and] mocks the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph – some of the most sacred components of our Catholic Faith,” he added.

Vennari noted in his piece that the parish falls under Bishop Richard Joseph Malone’s jurisdiction, who the writer contacted. The bishop was quick to take action and thanked Vennari for bringing the sign to his attention:

Thank you for your message regarding the sign at SS Columba – Brigid Church here in Buffalo. As soon as I learned of this sign, I took immediate action to have it removed. The pastor of SS Columba – Brigid Church told me that the “2 Dads” were meant to refer to a child who has both a father and stepfather.

There are several children in his parish who have both a father and stepfather. However, given the potential for the meaning of this message to be misunderstood and even perceived in a heretical way, it was immediately removed.

Rev. Roy Herberger, 73, who describes himself as liberal, told Yahoo Parenting, “I’m not trying to cause problems. I had no trouble taking the sign down.” He added, “I only had one purpose, after 48 years in the church, I see so many kids with stepparents, or even in single-family homes or being raised by grandparents, who feel that they’re not as good as other kids who have a nuclear mother-and-father family…I wanted to provide support and understanding for kids in that situation.”

Vennari is skeptical of Herberger’s explanation. “With respect, it seems hard to imagine anyone in our time not being aware of what the ‘2 dads’ term can imply, especially since the pro-homosexual book ‘Heather Has 2 Mommies’ has been around since 1989,” he wrote in an update.

Herberger recently gave a homily encouraging the church’s flock to be accepting of all loving relationships [parish member Margaret] McGrath said, and she saw the sign as an extension of that pulpit message. McGrath acknowledged that her initial reaction was like that of others who viewed the message as controversial, but she prayed about it and said she believes that Herberger was encouraging people to look at relationships of other people joined in love by God.

Herberger told Yahoo Parenting that his sermons and the “2 dads” sign are not about agitation. “They are a challenge to be more open to the teachings of Christ…his openness, his acceptance, his love,” he said. “That sometimes gets covered over by church traditions, rules, and regulations.”

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The priest replaced his “2 Dads” message with “Walmart Isn’t the Only Saving Place.”